Multiple needle skip-stitch machine



Sept. 26, 1944.. w PATEY 2,359,050

MULTIPLE NEEDLE SKIP-STITCH MACHINE 'Filed Nov. 6, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR William B. Pa fey ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1944. w. B. PATEY MULTIPLE NEEDLE SKIP-STITCH MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1942 -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fig. 4-.

v. .M M W f R a 0 P T T V m m w Y B MULTIPLE NEEDLE SKIP-STITCH MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I x --z25 206 2o7 206 2o3 F i 7. +2o1 9 I J. mvsmoa William B. pafel BY Fi 6. mm -fi ATTORNEY ?atented Sept. 26,1944

NlTED, STATES MULTIPLE NEEDLE SKIP-STITCH MACHINE William B. Petey, Winona, Miss., assignor of onehalf to Robert D. Sanders, Jackson, Miss.

Application November 6, 1942, swarm. 464,803

i Claims. (01. na -205) My invention relates to tufting machines and more particularly to tufting machines of the multiple needle, skip-stitch type for simultaneously forming rows of spaced tufts on relatively long sections of cloth as it progressively passes through the machine and constitutes an improvement over the machine disclosed in my Patent No. 2,352,153, dated June 20, 1944. It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple needle skip-stitch machine having an improved feed mechanism which will at intervals move the cloth a distance of several stitches without disabling or rendering inoperative the needle carriage and without interference with its operation.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a ratchet mechanism for rotating the feed rolls of the machine having a main reciprocating arm for actuating the mechanism to turn the rolls and move the cloth a pro-determined distance, and an auxiliary reciprocating arm associated with said main arm and intermittently operated, said auxiliary arm having a longer stroke whereby the rolls are turned to move the cloth a greater distance.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a rear elevation of my improved tufting machine. Figure 2 is a cross section of my improved feed roller and its shaft. Figure 3 is an end elevation of my improved machine showing the cloth and the thread passing therethrough. Figure 4 is a detail of my improved actuating rod for the feed mechanism of my machine. Figure 5 is a fragmental end elevation of my improved machine showing the feed actuating mechanism for producing the skip-stitch effect by movin the cloth a distance of several stitches at intervals during the operation of the machine. Figure 6 is a sectional view of my improved feed mechanism taken along the line 8, t of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a detail plan view of a feed actuating member of my improved machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail 3 designates the frame of my improved machine and may conveniently be the frame of a conventional loom which has been converted. This frame may be of structural steel and mayhave base members H6, H6 which join the ends I, I of the frame. Mounted on each end of the base elements H6, H6 and bridging them is a supporting base ill for an electric motor H5. This motor maybe of the conventional type, that is, a single, double or triple phase induction motor or an appropriate D. C. motor. Of course, the conventional electrical leads or conductors (not shown) pass from a source of electrical energy to the motor. The motor has adjacent one of its ends a shaft extension and pulley M4 mounted on such extension and having one or more grooves for coaction with the belts or other appropriate means. Mounted intermediate the frame and bridging its ends is a central drive shaft 2i journaled in appropriate bearings me, till] mounted preferably on the inner faces of the ends i, l of the frame. Shaft it extends beyond either end thereof and mounted on one end is a pulley M2 having grooves therein for cooperation with V belts lit bridging the pulley on the motor H5 and the pulley M2 on the machine. The shaft 2! is also supported intermediate itsends in a bearing 99 on the end of an arm extending upwardly from side members of the frame. Mounted on and intermediate of drive shaft it is a hand wheel at for turning the drive shaft manually, and independent of the motor M5, primarily for use when threading up the machine.

Positioned on an intermediate portion of the frame and. adjacent the top thereof is a U shape angle iron or channel element 2'! which bridges the ends l, l of the frame. A throat plate 33 is attached to the angle iron 21. Positioned beneath the throat plate 33 and mounted on the plates 28 at either end of the machine are rock shafts 29, 36. (in shaft 29 is mounted the conventional looper and on shaft 30 is mounted the conventional cutter. Likewise the cutter shaft may be actuated from the looper shaft by the conventoinal link arrangement. Such an arrangcment is disclosed in my prior patent as identified above, and such a combination is conveniently shown in Bradwell 2,241,113. Shaft 25 receives its movement through a connecting rod 25 extending from the main drive shaft 2| of the machine, and may be joined to the shaft 29 through any arm and conventional joint such as a ball and socket joint disclosed indetail in my prior patent.

Positioned over the bed plate 33 of the machine is a needle carriage it made up of a structural frame work of pieces extending longitudinally and transversely which arev preferably of angle iron construction. Mounted on the lower front edge of the carriage are a series of conventional needle socketsfor the reception of needles IS in spaced relation. These needles span the entirefront of the carriage and are coextene sive with the width of cloth to be operated upon. Also appropriate threadguide openings may be made in the members of the carriage for the passage of thread to the needles.

Mounted on the inner faces of the front ends of the carriage frame l6 in sockets carried thereby are balls l1, H which balls coact with these sockets in the movement of the carriage. The balls l1, l1 are rigidly mounted on the ends of connecting rods 22 which extend upwardly from the main drive shaft 2| of the machine. On the rear of the carriage l6 and serving to mount it are sockets and balls l8. The balls l are rigidly mounted on the carriage l6 and coact with and are received in sockets carried by the rear uprights, extensions of the frame. This permits the carriage to rock about balls l8, l0 as an axis so that the needles I! mounted on the front thereof are moved in an arcuate path.

As indicated above the'connecting rods 22 extend from the carriage 16 down to the main drive shaft 2| and it is pointed out that the lower end of each connecting rod 22 terminates in a socket which is disposed about cams on the drive shaft and they act to reciprocate the rods 22, 22 and the carriage is rocked or swung about its pivots in the well known manner of an eccentric.

Mounted in advance of and positioned above and below the bed plate of the machine are a plurality of spreader rollers 84, 85 and a feed roller 222. .The former rollers preferably have a plurality of spiral ribs extending outwardly towards each end thereof from the center. These rollers are preferably cylindrical in configuration and roller 85 receives its power from roller 84, being connected thereto through a belt, preferably in the manner indicated in my previous patent. It is also preferred that the belt leading to pulley 85 be reversed or crossed in order to drive that roller in the opposite direction to that of roller 84. Roller 84 in turn receives its power from a pulley on the main drive shaft 2| and is connected thereto through an appropriate belt, which detail is well brought out in my patent. On the other hand roller 222 mounted on extension l of the frame by shaft 22| is driven from pulley 220 which in turn derives its power from feed shaft 55 and pulley 2|9 mounted thereon and operatively connected to pulley 220 by belt 2l8.

Mounted on the opposite end of drive shaft 2| from that of the driving pulley H2 is a cam for normally actuating the feed mechanism to be hereinafter described. Rearwardly of the bed plate of the machine and in substantially vertical alinement and extending across the machine are upper and lower feeder rollers 52, 63. The lower roller 63 is mounted on a shaft carried by frame 1 of the machine but may be adjusted towards and away from the upper roller by any appropriate means. The upper roller is mounted at one end in the frame I and at the other end its shaft 65 is carried by an angle bracket 09 having a lower end secured through stud I0 to the frame and the upper end extending outwardly from the frame I. This provides clearance for movement of the arm 225 which actuates cross member 10. These various rollers are all similar to that shown in Figure 2 wherein a metal base 222 has a metal surface coated with a coating of rubber 222. This gives these rollers better adherence to cloth which they are moving through the machine. Mountend of the member 10 is slotted or grooved to receive the pivot pin in adjusted-relation in order to somewhat vary the length of the stroke. Mounted pivotally by pin 12 on the upper end of cross member 10 is a pawl II which is actuated into contact with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 66 in the usualmanner by a spring ll set in the inner face of the cross arm adjacent disk 20| whose teeth are adapted to mesh with the teeth of gear 200 mounted on the main drive shaft 2|. Mounted on the toothed disk 20| is a cam element 204 having studs or other securing'means 2|G passing therethrough and into disk 20| for securing the cam to the disk. Positioned just above and passing across and just adjacent to the disk 20l is a bracket 205 secured at its upper end through screws or studs 2l5 to the end 'I of the frame. Projecting upwardly from the bracket 205 are guides 205 upon which member 201 is adapted to reciprocate. Pivotally mounted intermediate its ends is a roller 200 on pivot 209 along with arm 2l0, which arm 2| 0 is pivotally joined to the expansible arm 225 at 2| The extensible arm 225 is shown at Fig. 4 as carrying a collar 2|2 intermediate its ends. One end of rod 225 extends into tubular member 2|| which coacts at its other end with a cam on shaft 2| to reciprocate it and its mating rod 225 and operate the feeding mechanism through cross arm 10. Pin 224 mounted on rod 2|! and pin 2 3 mounted on collar 2 2 have bridging them a tension spring 2|4 which tends to urge the collar 2|2'and the end of tubular member 2|'| into intimate engagement.

Mounted rearwardly of the initial feed rollers 62, 63 and carried by extensions of the frame are additional feed rollers 52, 54 mounted in vertically alined adjusted relation. These rollers as in my prior patent are mounted on flanged plates, which flanges are secured adjacent their upper ends to extensions of the frame. The lower plain surface roller 54 is mounted on a shaft or otherwise bridges the aforesaid plates. The upper roller 53 has a knurled or roughened outer surface. It is mounted on a shaft which preferably projects some distance beyond the roller at one end. The upper shaft passes through slots in the supporting bracket and is journaled on either end on blocks. The extending free end of the upper shaft 'has a pulley I1 mounted thereon, which pulley is joined through belt I0 to a pulley on shaft 65, which latter pulley is positioned adjacent the ratchet wheel 14 or if desiredcan coact with pulley 2|8 which drives pulley -220. Mounted on either end I of the frame is a standard 68 carrying a pivoted arm 51 for adjustment to any desired or appropriate position.

Formed in the upper edge of each arm 61 is a groove which serves as a. bearing for supporting a roller or stationary cloth guide 06, bridging the space therebetween.

Extending upwardly from the frame I at its corners are four uprights or extensions 0, 0 having a supporting structure 5 made of fabricated steel or other appropriate material for supporting various cones of yarn'2. Additional members extend upwardly from the supporting structure 5 and additional members bridge the upper ends of these extensions and extend on beyond them at the rear of the machine as shown in Fig. 3. To these cross members are secured a series of pins or loopedfguides 8 for directing the removal of the thread or. yarn from the cones 2. Mounted on the uprights 6, 6 intermediate their ends is a bowed thread guide 9 of relatively thin material havingja great many openings therein for the passing of yarn.

Mounted forwardly of the frame I on projecting arms, 43 is a roll of fabric or backing. Passing through the roll of backing is a shaft M having portions thereof seated in grooves of the arms .43. Extending upwardly from one side of theframeadjacent one of the arms (i3 is a lever 35 pivotally mounted on a bracket #35 on frame 5 to move longitudinally of shaft M. This lever is for the purpose of moving the shaft M and is joined to it intermediate its ends but this feature constitutesno partof this invention and is covered in applicants previous patent.

Mounted on the frame adjacent the roll of cloth 3 are guidesdB, lit which project inwardly from ends 7 of the frame above and below the cloth for limiting the upward and downward movement thereoifland the other usual guides are also employed.

This machineas has already been indicated has a series of loopers and cutters mounted on shafts 29, 30, one each to each needle. It also has a presser foot positioned over the throat plate 33. It is normally tensioned against the throat plate by upstanding studs passing through the presser foot and having compression springs 33 disposed about them and bearing upon the presser foot. The throat plate is made in the usual manner having the enlarged throats as is customary in the tufting art. i

For stoppingthe machine after the power has been cut off an appropriate brake is provided. Thisbrake consists of a foot lever H0 pivotally mounted on a bracket lll3carried on one side of frame l by appropriate studs or other means. IPivot pin i ll pivotally mounted on bracket 903 ing this same time the pinion 200 on shaft M is w carried thereby through the slots in the presser foot and throat plate 38 and successively pierc-.

ing the fabric thereon as it is fed across the throat plate. Likewise rod 25 is made to reciprocate and to rock shafts 29, 30 thereby actuating the loopers and cutters in timed relation with the looper. Rods 2i 1, 225 are likewise reciprocated causing the cross arm 70 to be oscillated,

and in turn causing the pawl ll to advance the ratchet wheel M as it indexes with the teeth thereof. This intermittently moves the shaft 65 and in turn the pulleys 2i9, Ti, and 220 and this moves the'feed rollers 222, 62, 63, and 53, 54 in synchronism, and feeds the cloth. However, durrotating disk 2M and moving the cam 204 towards the roller wheel 208. In the cycle of operations when the cam 204 reaches wheel 208,

such wheel rides up its surface and moves the carries an arm iilil whichjin turn pivotally supports a rod iil'lat one end. The rod i0! is also supported by a strap, i112 secured to a side of the frame? through'studs or other means. The end of rod ifll. extends through an out turned portionof the strap and the free end of the rod i07 has a compression spring. l Q8 and a nut or washer Hi9 thereon. Rigidly mounted on the rod I61 is a brake sho'e itii w hich isadapted to engage and work against the inner surface of the rim or flange of the'drive pulley H2.)

Special'attention is directed to Figs. 6 and 7 wherein the bracket 2 .5 and sliding member 20! are shown and the particular mounting for the roller 208 is indicated. This roller is preferably set in a slot in member 201 and'the extension of shaft 209 pivotally coactswith member 2H2. The bracket 205 will also be, seen .to be of U shape permitting the passage fof'the'rod comprised of the telescoping rods til, 225. It also shows how end portion 1. a i i V In its operation the'cloth 3 is mounted on the shaft 44 in the form of a roll. Cones of yarn, one to each needle, positionedon support 5 feed the needles I9. The cloth is threaded through bearing 203 is mounted' by studs 224 on frame the machine passing between guides 83, 83 under 76 skips in stitches may be altered by changing the rnember 20'! on the guides 206 causing the arm 2i!) to move the rod 225 a very long stroke with respect to rod 2i! and against spring 2M. This causes the cross arm w to take several times the swing it normally takes and in turn causes the pawl it to move the ratchet wheel over a much greater are and acting through shaft 65, belts 218, la and rollers 222, 632, 63, etc. to move the cloth 3 a distance of several normal stitches on the throat plate 33 of the machine. This causes the machine to skip a space of several stitches before the next stitches are put in, and produces a skip stitch effect, After cam 204 has moved on,..spring 2 causes the rod 225 to return to itsnormal position with the collar 2l2 resting against the end of tubular rod 2H, and the machine continues to operate with normal feed until the cam is brought around again and engages the wheel 208.

In their cycle and upon reaching the lowermost postion of their stroke the needles is start their upward travel and ascend from the cloth. As is usual in these tui'ting machines the loopers pass between the needles and their respective strands and catch and hold the strands as the needles pass backup out of the fabric to form loops. The knives then come up and sever the loops on the looper. The machine may either be adjusted to accumulate loops'on the looper in the well known manner or it may cause the loops to be severed j as they are formed on the looper. This, of course,- is not an important feature of applicant's invention, since already old and well known in thear t.

In this machine it is ordinarily desirable to use a great many needles, preferably at least 57 in number; and their spacing is ordinarily from one-half to five-eighths inch apart, although this may be altered to meet the situation at hand.

As raised portions of cloth or tufts pass between the feed rollers, and particularly the last set, they move apart and facilitate the passage of such enlarged portions.

It will be understood that thetiming of the ratios between the gears 200 andllll, and that the extent of the skip or the spacing between sets of stitches may be changed by changing the size and/or position of the cam 204.

It will also be understood that in moving the roll of cloth endwise for compensating for irregularities in the cloth and also in the wrapping, lever 45 is swung about its pivot on bracket 46, causing-the shaft 44 to be moved lengthwise. This, however, is described in detail in my prior patent.

If it is desired to operate this machine in the normal manner without producing skip stitch work, either the cam 204 or either of the gear wheels 200 or 2H may be removed. ,The cam 204 may be, removed by simply removing the studs H8 or slipping off the gears 200, or 20! from their shafts, or the supplemental shaft 202 may he removed, and this can be done by removing studs 224.

Having thus described my invention, 1'. claim:

1. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet mechanism mounted on the shaft of one of the rolls, a reciprocating arm for actuating said ratchet mechanism to move the cloth a pre-determined distance, said arm having an extensible section connected to the ratchet mechanism and an auxiliary reciprocating member connected to the extensible section of said reciprocating arm and having a longer stroke than said arm.

2. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft of one of the rolls, a movable pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a reciprocating member for actuating said pawl having an extensible section, and an auxiliary reciprocating member connected to the extensible section of said reciprocating member, said auxiliary reciprocating member having a longer stroke than the first-mentioned reciprocating member.

3. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft of one of the rolls, an oscillating member mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said oscillating member for operative engagement with said ratchet wheel, an extensible reciprocating arm connected to said oscillating member, and an auxiliary reciprocating member connected to the extensible section of said reciprocating arm, said reciprocating member having a longer stroke than the reciprocating arm.

4. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet mechanism for turning said rolls, a reciprocating arm for actuating said ratchet mechanism intermittently, said arm being-composed of telescoping sections, and an auxiliary reciprocating member connected to the section of said arm connected to the ratchet mechanism, said auxiliary reciprocating member having a longer stroke than said reciprocating arm.

5. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel for turning said feed rolls, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a reciprocating arm for driving said pawl composed of telescoping sections, and an auxiliary reciprocating arm connected to the section of said main arm connected with the pawl, said auxiliary arm having a longer stroke than said main 6. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including oloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel for turning said feed rolls, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a drive shaft having an eccentric mounted thereon, a reciprocating arm composed of telescoping sections, one section being connected to the eccentric on said drive shaft and the other section having connection with said pawl, and an auxiliary reciprocating am having one end connected to section of said main arm connected with the pawl, said auxiliary reciprocating arm having a longer stroke than said main arm.

7. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel for turning said feed rolls, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a drive shaft having an eccentric mounted thereon, a reciprocating arm composed of telescoping sections, one section being connected to the eccentric on said drive shaft and the other section having connection with said pawl, an auxiliary reciprocating arm having one endconnected to the section of said main arm connected with said pawl, and means for intermittently imparting a longer stroke to said auxiliary arm than the stroke of said main arm.

8. A skip-stitch mechanism for tuftingmachines including cloth feeding rolls, a ratchet wheel for turning said feed rolls, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a drive shaft having an eccentric mounted thereon. a reciprocating arm composed of telescoping sections, respectively connected to the eccentric on said drive shaft and said pawl, expansible means normally holding said sections together, and an auxiliary reciprocating am having a longer stroke than said main arm connected to the section of the main arm connected to said pawl.

9. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including a cloth feeding roll, a ratchet wheel for turning said roll, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a drive shaft having an eccentric mounted thereon, a reciprocating arm composed of telescopling sections, respectively connected to the eccentric on said drive shaft and said pawl, extensible means normally holding said sections together, an auxiliary reciprocating arm connected at one end to the section of said main arm connected to said pawl, and means driven by said drive shaft for intermittently imparting a longer stroke to said auxiliary arm than the stroke of said main arm.

10. A skip-stitch mechanism for tufting machines including a cloth feeding roll, a ratchet wheel for turning said roll, a reciprocating pawl for turning said ratchet wheel, a drive shaft having an eccentric mounted thereon, a reciprocating arm composed of telescoping sections, respectively connected to the eccentric on said drive shaft and said pawl, extensible means normally holding said sections together, an auxiliary reciprocating arm connected at one end to the section of said main arm connected to said pawl, and a cam wheel connected with said drive shaft for intermittently driving said auxiliary arm at a longer stroke than said main arm.

WILLIAM B. PATEY. 

